Contents

Design
and development

XC-108

The first C-108 built (designated XC-108) was a
B-17E (41-2593)
converted to a V.I.P. transport for General Douglas
MacArthur in 1943. With the exception of the nose
and tail turrets, all armament was removed, as was all armor. The
interior of the plane was made into a flying office for MacArthur,
with extra windows, cooking facilities, and living space. To
facilitate entry and exit, a drop-down door with steps was
installed in the rear fuselage.

YC-108

A similar conversion as in XC-108 was made on a B-17F-40-VE
(42-6036).

XC-108A

In March 1944, another B-17E (41-2595) was converted to a cargo
aircraft designated XC-108A. Hoping to convert
obsolete bombers into cargo aircraft, the United States Army Air
Forces initiated a remanufacturing station at Wright-Patterson Air Force
Base. The plane was stripped of armament, armor, and other
military equipment. Crew locations were shifted, and the nose was
modified to provide space for cargo and/or personnel. The cockpit was accessed via the
crawlway under it or through the hinged solid nose cone that had
replaced the original glazed bombardier station. To increase cargo
space, several bulkheads were removed and the bomb bay doors were
sealed closed. This allowed much of the fuselage volume to be used
to carry cargo or personnel.

XC-108B

A B-17F 42-30190 was converted
(XC-108B) to tanker service. As in the XC-108A, it
was devoid of armor and weapons, and the fuselage was modified to
make space for its cargo. The fuselage was filled with fuel
tanks.

Operational
history

XC-108

Was personal VIP transport aircraft of the General Douglas
MacArthur in 1943.

XC-108A

Based in India, the XC-108A
was used to fly material and personnel over the Himalayas to the B-29 base
in Chengdu, China. Due to chronic engine difficulties, it
proved a difficult cargo plane. In October 1944, it was returned to
the United States. By the end of the war, it was disassembled and
left in a junkyard in Maine. In
1985, a
vintage airplane buff acquired the pieces, and they were
transported to an airport in Illinois. The owner hopes to restore it to
B-17E configuration, which would make it the only surviving
B-17E.

XC-108B

XC-108B was to be used in the same line of work as the XC-108A:
carrying material (in this case, fuel) over the Himalayas to the
base in Chengdu.

Variants

XC-108

B-17E converted to VIP transport standard for General Douglas
MacArthur.

YC-108

B-17F converted to VIP transport standard for General Douglas
MacArthur.

XC-108A

B-17E converted to cargo or troop transport standard.

XC-108B

B-17F converted for service as a tanker.

Two other cargo transports and VIP transports were made from the
B-17.

CB-17G

Troop transport version capable of carrying up to 64 troops, 25
built.